Rueben Hanson

Rueben C. Hanson, 78, Frazee, MN, died Tuesday, April 28 at his home under the care of Hospice Of The Red River Valley. Funeral services will be 11:00 AM Friday, May 1 at Gethsemane Lutheran Church in Snellman, MN, Reverend John Ramsbacher, officiating. Interment will be in the Snellman Cemetery. Friends may call 4:00 – 8:00 PM Thursday, April 30 with a prayer service at 7:00 PM at the David-Donehower Funeral Home in Detroit Lakes. The visitation will continue one hour prior to the service at the church on Friday.

Rueben Charles Hanson was born June 19, 1930 near Ulen, MN to Hans and Selma (Halvorson) Hanson. He attended country school near Hitterdal, MN and, in 1938, his family moved to Glyndon, MN where he also attended school. He worked on a farm for his aunt and uncle near Gibbon, MN from 1946 – 1948. Rueben then moved back to Glyndon where he worked on construction jobs. He also worked at Newday Seeds in Fargo, ND and at a gravel business in Moorhead, MN.

Rueben was united in marriage with Ruth Pihlaja July 26, 1952 in Glyndon, MN. They made their home in Glyndon until 1959 when they moved to a farm near Wolf Lake, MN. He did general farming and hauled gravel until retiring in 1992. They sold the farm in 2003 and moved to Vergas, MN. In 2006, they moved to Frazee.

Rueben was an active member of Christ Lutheran Church in Wolf Lake where he served on the church council for many years. He served as a member of the Wolf Lake Volunteer Fire Department; as a director for the Wolf Lake-Menahga Coop Board and served on the Wolf Lake Township Board.

He loved fishing, hunting and traveling – especially to the mountains. He also loved driving tractor for his special friend, David Yliniemi during the summer months. He was an avid fan of the Wolf Lake Baseball Team and attended several state tournaments in which they played. He treasured his family and liked to spend time with his grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

Rueben is survived by his wife, Ruth of Frazee; two daughters, Ruby and her husband Greg Schmid of Vergas, Diane and her husband Dutch Hasskamp of Aitkin, MN; son, Randy and his wife, Janine of Rochert, MN; eight grandchildren; four great- grandchildren; sister, Mavis Bergley and her special friend, Bob of Sun City, CA. He was preceded in death by his parents; five brothers and one sister.

Memorials are preferred to Hospice Of The Red River Valley.